Alphabet Inc’s Google was fined 9.36 billion Indian rupees ($113.04 million) on Tuesday, as India this month ended another antitrust investigation involving the US tech giant for its payments app and in-app payment system. was found guilty of abusing its market position to promote.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said that Google forced app developers to use its in-app payment system, a way for developers to monetize their work, keeping in mind the sale of in-app digital goods. important tool.
The CCI move is the latest blow for Google in its priority markets, where it was fined $162 million by the former on Thursday for anti-competitive practices related to Android. Google is also facing a separate investigation into its business conduct in the Indian smart TV market.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest order. It had called Thursday’s decision of the CCI “a major setback for Indian consumers and businesses”, adding that it will review the order and decide the next course of action.
“The Commission hereby directs Google to cease and desist from engaging in anti-competitive practices,” the CCI said in a statement on Tuesday.
It said Google should not restrict app developers from using any third party billing or payment processing services, either for in-app purchases or for in-app purchases.
Google has faced criticism globally for mandating that software developers using its App Store use a proprietary in-app payment system that allows up to 30 percent off purchases made within an app. takes commission. Of late, the company has started allowing alternative payment systems in more countries.
According to Counterpoint Research, Google’s Android operating system powers 97 percent of India’s 600 million smartphones.
-Reuters
This is the second time this month that BGR India was slapped with an antitrust penalty for the first time after the CCI imposed a fine of Rs 936.44 crore on Google.
